On Sat, Dec 24, 2011 at 8:47 AM, Jon Kiparsky <[email protected]>wrote:
> I'm not saying that Python isn't a good first language, there may be good
> arguments for that, but I don't think that the REPL argument is one of
> them. It's easy enough in Java to get immediate results.
Agreed. And I also agree that immediate results are extremely important to
get beginners excited. Much more important than pretty much anything else I
can think of. The first weeks are decisive to ignite this spark, and this
should be priority #1 of the instructor.
Like I said before, I think that Javascript scores extremely high in this
aspect, probably higher than any other language.
You sit students in front of an HTML page that you have prepared, show them
first how to edit some HTML and press refresh. Instant result. Very
gratifying.
Then you ask them to edit some CSS. Refresh. Elements change color. Instant
results.
Then you make them display an alert in Javascript when the page loads.
Instant result.
Then you have them put a breakpoint (any of Chrome, WebKit or Firefox will
do, they're all excellent). Magic, the code stops there, and they can
navigate through the objects (probably a bit early for that though). Even
better, they can modify these objects. Neat, but no visual results on the
page yet.
Then you have them type a simple JQuery ($('.banner').attr('class',
'selected') and blam, the banner appears.
Then you extend this to JQueries that touch several selectors at the same
time and the page lights up like a Christmas tree.
Languages that have some native graphic support are nice, but in this day
and age, I think starting with web pages is the way to go.
--
Cédric
--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "The
Java Posse" group.
To post to this group, send email to [email protected].
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to
[email protected].
For more options, visit this group at
http://groups.google.com/group/javaposse?hl=en.
